Encouraging dramatic behaviour in youth
By MARK PAVILONS Editor

Nothing has value unless it's shared with others.

A Bolton actress is using her experience to help mold a new generation of talented thespians.

Ramona Milano, a Gemini Award nominee, has expanded her Suburban Vortex Productions school to entice the young drama kings and queens into the fold. Vortex, and Milano herself, have grown over the past year as teenage actors embraced the unique learning experience. Vortex is the only on-camera dramatic class in Caledon.

This year, Vortex will open its doors to juniors, from 7-9 and seniors, 10-12, as well as teens. Milano said for the younger students, classes will involve icebreaking techniques and helping them get over silliness and jitters. Trust-building follows to get them to "open up." They will also be exposed to building scenes which will incorporate students' own ideas. The whole session will involve "creating, creating, creating," she stressed. The classes culminate in on-camera work that students will be allowed to keep.

The 10-week sessions of hour-long classes run fall, winter and spring. The current session runs October through December.

For the teens, their 90- minute classes are split among improvisation, oncamera auditions and scene study.

Milano likes to keep her classes small, to perhaps 10 or so students, who benefit from the guidance of this working actor. She sees it as a bit of a passing of the torch. What Milano didn't expect was the added bonus of creating some lasting bonds with her students.

Last year, she took her teens to Toronto to see working actors taking classes. A couple of guest speakers also surprised the students with some on-the-spot challenges.

Teens who took her class were very curious, Milano noted, adding most who are serious about pursuing this passion "really get it."

Milano pointed out there are some professional youngsters in the area who also benefit from her tutoring, helping them prepare for auditions.

Milano is genuinely thrilled to help groom youngsters who haven't been jaded by the world.

Milano's teaching keeps her close to home, literally. While she can be quite busy at times with new projects, her family is very important to her and keeps her grounded.

She will appear in an episode of Love You to Death, to be broadcast on Global sometime in the new year. The drama series reenacts true tales of couples who killed one another for passion or profit.

She's done a variety of TV and film projects, including a stint on Due South, and the CBS mini-series The Last Don. Other credits include Wild Card, Traders, The Relic Hunter and Earth: Final Conflict.

Milano previously held classes at Pope John Paul II School in Bolton, after six years of teaching drama at Rumball Music Studios.

Milano noted she's currently revamping a script for a TV pilot.

Her passion for life is undoubtedly passed on to her students.

She's adamant she "wants to do it all without any sacrifice." Her mission in life is not to sacrifice quality or her family values, and still enjoy life to its fullest.

She'll likely succeed, and leave an impression on some rising stars.

To learn more about Suburban Vortex Productions, call her at 905- 951-3859 or e-mail her at dags4@sympatico.ca.